CONFIRMATIONAL ANALYSIS OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN SOIL EXTRACTS BY CRYOTRAPPING GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROMETRY

The utility of cryotrapping gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry for isomer differentiation and identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil samples was investigated. Extracts of sediment, soil and river clay were examined and compared with the results from previous analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The presence of most of the detected PAHs could be confirmed at a level of 1-4 ng per component injected. In addition, previously undetermined PAHs were identified and valuable structural information was obtained on the identity of two co-eluting isomers. Most of the cryotrapping spectra of PAHs appeared to be similar to spectra recorded with the KBr pelleting technique. Small intensity differences were observed but absorption frequencies were found within the data point resolution of the recorded spectra.